Bulk food dispenser



`lune l5, 1937. H. P. HALL ET Al.

v BULK FOOD DISPENSER Filed Feb. 3, 1936 WWIIWIIII 4 i 4 ATTORNEYS.

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Patented June 15, 1937 PATENT OFFICE .BULK FGOD DISPENSER Harold P. Halland Arthur T. Hartwick, Seattle, Wash.

Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,1188

6 Claims.

This invention :relates .to .improvements in -dispensing devices -asemployed .for `semi-fluid materials, such .as peanut butter, mayonnaise,and similar substances. More A,particularly the present invention is inthe nature of an improvement over the .device of .my co-pendingapplication, filed on February 27, v1934, under Serial No.

The device of the -copend-ing application, above mentioned, comprises aclosed container terminating at its lower ,end in a .neck portionproviding an Aoutlet `to which ya cap, formed with a valved outlet, isapplied and having a shaft eX- tending lengthwise within the containerand through an .opening in its upper .end Wall, with a crank arm at itsupper .end and a propeller disk at its lower end located within the cap,whereby the contents of the container may be forcibly ejected when the.discharge opening is uncovered and the shaft is rotated.

While the prior device is satisfactory insofar as its general purpose`and use is concerned, it is not satisfactorily economical tomanufacture due to the requirement of providing the rcon- 5 tainers -orglass jars with top end openings for the shaft and with suitablebushings for mounting the shaft. Furthermore, it is quite an item ofexpense to equip the jars with the propeller disks, shafts, and crankarm, and difliculty is sometimes experienced `in packing for shipment ortransportation.

In View of the various items of expense in manufacturing anddiiiiculties of handling the device as heretofore manufactured, it hasbeen the principal object of the present invention to provide adispensing device of a similar kind but eliminating therefrom` theundesirable features that are incident to use of the shaft andpropeller, and substituting in their stead devices for applying vairunder pressure into the container as the means for effecting a forcibleejection of material, thus making possible the use of glass jarcontainers of standard construction, and materially reducing .the costof construction and the diiiiculties .of shipping heretoforeexperienced.

More specifically stated, the present invention resides in the provisionof a .dispensing device comprising a closed container terminating in .adownwardly .opening neck portion to which a cap with a valved dischargeopening is applied, also including an air pump that is connected todeliver air through a :liexible `connection to a tube extending upwardlythrough the cap and 55 into the container, .so that a pneumatic pressure(Cl. Z21--77) maybe built -up Vto zaid `or .cause a ready ydispensing of'the contents from `the container when the discharge opening isuncovered.

Another object of the invention resides in the specific details ofconstruction of a check valve to `be used at the upper end of the airdelivery tube Within the container whereby material from the containeris prevented from. -being drawn into the pump. Also in the provision of.a pressure relief valve to prevent a detrimental, over pressure in `thecontainer.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction andcombination rof parts, and in their mode of operation, .as willhereinafter be described.

In accomplishing these and other .objects of the invention, we haveprovided the improved Vdetails of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, whereiny 1 Fig. 1 isa central, vertical section lofA a dispensing device .constructed in.accordance `with the present invention.

Fig. 2vis an enlarged, sectional .detail ofthe air tube mounting. J

Fig. `3 isa lower end view of the device. y

Fig. 4 is a View of the container as filled, and closed for shipment orstorage.

Fig. 5 isa-sectional `detail illustrating a modiiied form of valve.

Fig. 6 is a sectional vdetail valve.

Referring more in vdetail to the drawing- I designates the container forthe material to be dispensed. It is most desirable that the container'beof glass, but .it might be of any other suitable material, andpreferably transparent-so that it will satisfactorily disclose itscontents t0 view. In the present instance, the .container is a standardform of glass jar, supported, when in. use, in an inverted position, .asshown in.`- Fig. 1. It has a fiat upper end wall 2 .and .at its lowerend has a neck portion 3 providing .a restricted discharge opening 4.The neck ,portion is exteriorly threaded and Vduring transportation andstorage may be closed by the application thereto of vany of the ordinarytypes of screw caps, as at 5 in Fig. 4, but when in use has a novel formof dispensing cap 6, as shown in Figs. 2 and .3, threaded thereto.

This cap 6 is cup-shaped and is interiorly threaded about its upper endas at 6a and tapers slightly in a downward direction to a lower end wall6b .formed centrally with a discharge opening 'l over which opening aclosure plate A8 of pressure relief located. The plate 8 is held inplace against the under side of wall 5b by an attaching screw 9 throughone end thereof and threaded into the wall. The plate may be swung aboutthe screw 5 by means of an extended handle portion 8a, thus to cover orto uncover the opening 'I. A leaf spring IU is also mounted by the screw9 to press upwardly against the plate to hold it tightly against thewall 6a and thus prevent leakage l from the container.

Integral with a side wall of the cap is a boss IIa through which avertical bore II is formed.

An air tube I2, which is extended upwardly within the container asubstantial distance, as seen in l Fig. 1, is threaded at its lower endinto this bore A tubular metallic sleeve I3 is embedded in the capcoaxial of the bore II vand-a nipple I4 is threaded into the lower endof the sleeve. Within the container is an air tube I2, which has itslower end threaded into the nipple as seen in Fig. 2, and its upper endterminates approximately midway of the height of the container. Aflexible tube I5 is connected with the lower` end of the nipple I4 andthis leads to a hand pump I6 whereby air may be injected into thecontainer through the parts I5, I4, and I2.

One feature of the present invention resides in the back check valvethat is provided at the upper end of the tube I2 to prevent contents ofthe container from owing back into the pump tube. The construction ofthe valve is best illustrated in Fig. 2, wherein the upper end of thetube I2 is shown to be open and provided near its upper end with lateralair ports I'I. Fitted over the end of the tube and extended down alongits side walls beyond, or below the air ports is a flexible rubbersleeve I8 provided at its upper end with a centralopening'thr'ough'which the shank of a screw I9 is .40 passed. This shankis threaded into the channel of the tube I2 with the head of the screwoverlying the upper end of the sleeve to hold the latter againstdisplacement. The sleeve is provided with air ports 2D offset from theair ports I'I of the tube. About the lower end of the sleeve is anenlarged collar portion 2l which maintains this part of the sleeve drawntightly about the tube. With this arrangement, the rubber sleevenormally tightly overlies and closes the air ports I1 opening from thetube I2. However, when air is injected under pressure by manipulation ofthe pump, it enters the container through the air ports I1, forcing the'rubber sleeve outwardly from its tight contact with the tube I2 andpermitting the air to escape into the container through the ports 20.Just as soon vas air pressure is relieved within the pump, the sleevecloses the ports II to hold the air pressure within the container and toprevent any flow of material into the tube I2.

As an alternative construction, as seen in Fig. 5, the sleeve may beclosed at its upper end and held securely in place by an enlargedinternal bead 22 at its lower end which seats within an annular channel23 encircling the tube I2 near its upper end.

In order that an excessive pressure may not be built up in the containerto the detriment of the container, or an undesirable outflow when thevalve plate 8 is open, a pressure relief valve is provided in the hoseconnection between the pump and the tube I2. Such a relief valve isillustrated in Fig. 6, wherein the air tube I5 connects with a shortnipple30 on the end of the pump cylinder. This hose. Connection has an'ports 3| and a rubber sleeve 32 is tted about the ported part of thetube I5 and about the base of the nipple 30. The tension of the sleeve32 is such that it will withhold pressure within the tube I5 up to apredetermined amount; for instance, up to four pounds pressure.Therefore, after a four pound pressure has been built up inside of thecontainer I, any additional air forced into the tube I 5 by the actionofthe pump will be exhausted through the ports 3| by an outwarddisplacement of the sleeve 32. The

' operation of this valve is the same as that described in connectionwith the upper end of the tube l2 except that it is made to relieveinternal air pressure from the tube I5, while the valve sleeve on thetube I2 is designed to operate as a check valve to withhold pressureinside the container.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, and assuming the container tobe filled with a Inaterial to be dispensed, such as mayonnaise, thedevice is placed in use by applying the dispensing cap 6 and theninverting the container so that it will assume the position of Fig. 1.Then when it is desired to dispense contents from the container, theplate 8 is adjusted to uncover the opening 'I and air is delivered underpressure into the container by actuation of the pump. This air pressureagainst the contents of the container will effect a positive flowthereof through the discharge opening, but the flow may be cut off atany time by moving the plate 8 to closed position.

A very desirable feature resides in the fact that the cap 6 mounts thetube I2 since removal of the cap also removes the tube from thecontainer.

When a container is emptied, the dispensing lcap 6 may be removed andthe container cleaned and refilled. The cap 6 may be interchangeablyapplied to containers and it is not required that individual dispensingcaps be provided for each.

The present device is economical, sanitary, and easily handled, easilycleaned and is practical and entirely satisfactory in use. Furthermore,the container may be made in various sizes and designs Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new therein, anddesire to secure byk Letters Patent ist- 1. In a dispensing device ofthe character described, a container having a discharge opening, aclosure means for said opening, an air tube entering the containerhaving a lateral discharge.

port, and an elastic sleeve fitted to said tube and voverlying said portto close the latter against outflow of air from the container.

2. In a pneumatic dispensing container, an air tube extended into thecontainer in an air tight connection, and having a connection at itsouter end with a source of air pressure; said tube having a lateraldischarge port from which air may be discharged therefrom into thecontainer, and an elastic sleeve tted about the tube and overlying saidport as a back check valve to prevent escape of air pressure through theport and adapted to be lifted from the port by pressure of air incharging the container.

3. In a pneumatic dispensing container. an air tube extended into thecontainer in an air tight fitting and connected at its end outside thecontainer with a sourcel of air pressure; said tube being provided withlateral discharge ports opening therefrom at points inside and outsidethe A Cil container, an elastic sleeve fitted to said tube and overlyingthe port on the inside of the container as a back check closure means,and an elastic sleeve fitted toI the tube and overlying the port that isoutside the container and operable as a pressure regulating valve andadapted to allow escape of air after the container has been charged to apredetermined pressure.

4. In a pneumatic dispensing container having an air charging tubeextended thereinto and pro vided at its inner end with a lateral port,an elastic sleeve fitted to the tube and overlying said port and havinga port therein that is oiset from registration with the tube port.

5. In a pneumatic dispensing container having an air charging tubeextended thereinto and pro-l vided at its inner end with a lateral port,an

elastic closure cap fitted over the end of the tube and extended tooverlap the port therein and having a port out of registration from thetube port and having an encircling collar at its end less elastic thanthe body portion of the cap to maintain a tight connection with thetube.

6. In a pneumatic dispensing container, an air charging tube extendedthereinto and provided at its inner end portion With an encirclinggroove and a lateral discharge port, a tubular elastic cap fitted overthe tube end and across the port and having a reinforcing bead at itsopen end tightly seated in said groove to hold the capagainstdisplacement; said cap having a port therein out of registrationWith the tube port.

HAROLD P. HALL. ARTHUR T. HARTWICK.

